How to Participate in the Tibetan & Himalayan Library: Content, Tools, & Funding

Overview

THL is a non-profit initiative whose survival is based on grants and volunteer activity. Its aim is to benefit Tibetan and Himalayan peoples, the field of Tibetan and Himalayan Studies, and the international public with an interest in Tibet and the Himalayas. Given THL's scope, non-profit orientation, and lack of endowment, we are wholly dependent upon volunteer contributions and support to continue this important work. We thus are in urgent need for support by contributors, processors, technologists and donors. Anyone interested in contributing content, volunteer time for processing, technical skills, or funding/equipment should please contact us at: Please see the associated pages linked to directly below for details.

i. Contributing Content: Participation in THL

THL is dependent upon the support of scholars, librarians, archivists, photographers, videographers and others providing original content in the form of information, analysis, and media. This can range from one sentence contributions or single photos by students or travelers, to major new projects. See the THL Research Lab for a comprehensive guide to our online submission and editing facilities. Consult the following pages for general information:

THL is dependent upon people (scholars, students, librarians, others) contributing to the input, processing, checking and preparation of data so that it can be in the form necessary for it to be integrated fully into THL's collections. This includes typing in Tibetan texts, doing basic markup of texts that require minimal training, scanning journals, and so forth; it also includes such simple things as checking an online resource to make sure it works properly throughout. No technical background is necessary, and for many tasks even linguistic or content knowledge is not required. See Contributing Time: Volunteering Time to THL for details.

THL is dependent on technologists and computing professionals contributing their time to developing, modifying and maintaining tools and technical systems, as well as performing highly technical processing. All our own products are open source and free. See Contributing Technical Expertise: Technical Participation in THL for details.

THL is dependent upon individuals, foundations, universities and government offices for financial and equipment contributions to pay for its central staff, facilities, equipment, training programs, travel, and various project support activities. See Contributing Donations: Donating Funds and Equipment to THL for details.